Guwahati: Former Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen Borah will formally join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on February 22 (Bhupen Borah Joins BJP). The announcement was made by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma after he visited Borah’s residence on Tuesday, a day after Borah submitted his resignation letter on Monday.
Addressing the media with Bhupen Borah seated beside him, the Chief Minister said that the exact time of Borah’s induction would be decided by BJP’s state president, Dilip Saikia. He added that several other Congress leaders and workers would also join the BJP along with Borah. A joining ceremony will be held in Lakhimpur district, and Congress leaders and workers from Ranganadi and Bihpuria are also expected to join the party.
Dr. Sarma further stated that he would sit with Borah in the coming days to discuss political matters. Responding to a question from journalists, the Chief Minister remarked that Borah could contest the election from the Jalukbari constituency if required. “The party will decide from which constituency he will contest. But Bhupen Borah will contest from a good constituency in line with the BJP’s perspective,” he said.
The Chief Minister emphasized that Borah did not join the BJP after bargaining for a ticket. “He left Congress because he was hurt. Had he wanted, he could have asked the Congress leadership for a safe seat even yesterday. When a person comes after being hurt, negotiating over a seat amounts to insulting him,” Sarma said.
Refuting suggestions that Borah was acting as his agent within the Congress, Dr. Sarma said, “Bhupen Borah was not my agent in Congress. Rather, I have given him many internal details of Congress.” He also claimed that many Congress workers are upset because the party leadership does not genuinely want to fight the upcoming elections.
In the same interaction, Sarma commented that people belonging to the mainstream Assamese community do not like Rakibul Hussain and view him with disdain, describing his character as “harsh.” He further asserted that opposition unity would have no impact in constituencies currently represented by BJP MLAs.
The Chief Minister went on to predict that MP Pradyut Bordoloi would join the BJP before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and that Debabrata Saikia would join the BJP after being defeated in the 2026 Assembly elections.
Reflecting on Borah’s earlier political journey, Dr. Sarma said that when Borah worked for the Congress, he did so with seriousness and commitment. However, he added, “A Hindu person cannot remain in Congress. Rakibul Hussain has shaped the party’s internal structure in a different way.”
Commenting on the current APCC president Gaurav Gogoi, Sarma said that Gogoi is never disheartened and is preparing for 2031. “The son of a prominent person never gets disheartened. Have you ever seen Rahul Gandhi become disheartened after losing elections? The children of influential families do not have to struggle. We have to struggle. We are children of ordinary households,” he said.
The Chief Minister also claimed that grassroots-level Muslim members of Congress would join the Raijor Dal, while Hindu members would join the BJP.
Congress High Command Meets Bhupen Bora; Resignation Not Accepted